He will have a big role to play. While refereeing has continued to be criticized since the start of this 2025 African Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has chosen an experienced man to lead the debates during the final between Senegal and Morocco. The Congolese Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo has been designated for the meeting scheduled for Sunday evening (8 p.m.) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat.
The 38-year-old official is preparing to manage his third match in the competition after the opening match between Morocco and the Comoros (won 2-0 by the Atlas Lions) and the group stage meeting between Tanzania and Tunisia (1-1). He received eight yellow cards and whistled two penalties during these first two matches.
He will referee his first CAN final
He will referee his seventh match with the Moroccan selection for a record of 6 victories and a draw. He led three Senegalese matches including the first leg of the 2022 World Cup lost against Egypt (1-0) and two qualifying matches for the 2023 African Cup of Nations against Benin (1-1) and against Rwanda (1-0 victory).
Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo had until now never refereed more than a quarter-final in the continental tournament, during the CAN 2023 between Cape Verde and South Africa (won by Bafana Bafana on penalties). He is therefore preparing to experience the first final of his career in the competition. The man from the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a man of experience having already managed 30 CAF Champions League matches, including the final of the 2023-2024 edition.
The referee of the match will be supported by his compatriots Guylain Bongele Ngila and Gradel Mwanya Mbilizi, while South African Tom Abongile will occupy the role of fourth referee. On the VAR side, the Gabonese Pierre Ghislian Atcho was appointed to ensure the VAR alongside the Eswatini Letticia Viana, the Kenyan Stéphane Eleazar Yiembe, the Congolese René Daniel Louzaya.
